A BIT OF HISTORY: "Last, Lone P5M Flies Away From Bermuda" Bermuda Mid-Ocean News, Vol. 52 - No. 3 Hamliton, Bermuda, Monday, January 6, 1964" A lone P5M Martin Marlin flying boat roared up from the Great Sound yesterday morning, then flew low over the U. S. Naval Station control tower in a salute and headed out over the sea for the United States.....This was the last that NS Bermuda will see of the large two-engined sea planes which over the years have become a familiar sight in these skies. The other flying boats stationed here left earlier. The United States Atlantic Fleet has discontinued the use of these aircraft in favour of the swifter, longer-ranged Orions which are four engine turbo-prop land planes, some of which are now operating out of Kindley Air Force Base.....CLOSE OF AN ERA.....In a way the departure of the P5M yesterday marked the close of an era at the Naval Station because not only was it the last flying boat to be based here, but it was the last remnant of the station's two air squadrons. Patrol Squadron 45 officially left the station on December 31, and Patrol Squadron 49 left the station on September 1st.....Although the station has been decreased in size, it does not mean, however, that it has become defunct. A spokesman for the station said yesterday that in the past year a fairly large number of research vessels had used the facilities of the station and it was expected that the same number of even slightly more would do the same in the future.....The main change, said the spokesman, was that the Navy's air operations had been shifted to Kindley Air Force Base where the Orion aircraft were now stationed. These aircraft would continue to carry on about the same amount of anti-submarine warfare operations as the flying boats had done from the Naval Station. In addition two aircraft will still be based at the Naval Station. One is a helicopter and the other is a HU-16-D amphibious aircraft.....However, the primary responsibility of the Naval Station now will be the maintenance of surface craft and submarines....." Contributed by Bill Bryan goodroosterjunior@yahoo.com WebSite: B & D Custom Caps & Tees http://www.vpnavy.org/luckydog.html [WebSite Updated 30DEC2000 | E-Mail Updated 11JAN99 | 23JAN98]

A BIT OF HISTORY: NAS Jacksonville, FLA "...Circa 1964...In 1961 VP-7 made its final homeport change, from NAS Brunswick, Maine to NAS Jacksonville, Florida. The photo shows the "seawall" area of NAS Jacksonville, Florida, site of VP-7 hangars. In the photo left is roughly north and the water at the top of the pic is the St. Johns River. The seaplane ramps are clearly visible, used until '63 or so by VP-45 and other P5M squadrons (most of which got P3's early in the game). the rightmost hangar belonged to VP-30, the P2 RAG. VP-7 at one time or another occupied the second or third hangar from the right. At one time the second hangar was shared by VP-7 and VW-4, the "Hurricaine Hunters" and their WV Super Connies..." Contributed by WOODRUFF, William H. (Woody) whw00dy@att.net [20FEB2001]

On Oct. 23, U.S. naval ships took positions on the quarantine line at 25 degrees N and provisions for aerial surveillance flights were put in place. The USS ESSEX with two S2F squadrons was assigned to patrol the zone north of 25 degrees. P5M's of VP-49 and VP-45 were tasked with the zone north and east of 25N,65W. VP-5 based out of NS Roosevelt Roads, PR was tasked with the zone east of the quarantine line and south of 25N.

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...I have a video (converted from old 8mm film to VHS) of "Life in BDA and Gitmo Bay, Cuba" in 62 and 63, that includes shots of P5M's here and there - as well as video of flights in Argentia, Newfoundland and Thule, Greenland. If I remember right (it's been a long time since I viewed it), I audio dubbed it in memory to my crew lost in Argentia, Newfoundland - which was Crew 3 when LCdr. R.T.Lemon and I flew with them, but I think was a different crew number when they crashed. Cdr Lemon went on to become a CO of a Moffett squadron...." Contributed by Bill Bryan AWC (Ret) goodroosterjunior@yahoo.com WebSite: B & D Custom Caps & Tees http://www.vpnavy.org/luckydog.html [WebSite Updated 30DEC2000 | E-Mail Updated 11JAN99]